However, some quick notes: I've gotten someone to work on the page while I usually can't, you'll be introduced to him very soon, he seems very cool.

Also, I've received a bunch of news regarding midi's (I've got some NEW AWESOME ones btw), SS2 stories, articles regarding future LG products, and of course, more petition signings. I've gotten approximately 880 or so, only a hundred left. I've also received votes regarding the buttons, but no one seems interested in this, so I might just take it off :-(

Thanks, and take care - I'll update sooner, I PROMISE :-)

1/21/98 - 4:10 PM EST
Not much going on now - We have 774 signings, but it's been slowing down the past day - as are the hits - I encourage you to spread the word!

Anyway, just thought I'd post some stuff up, like email I got in the past few days.

Speaking of which, in the next few days, I'm going to post up a FABULOUS story that'd be great for the SS sequel. You might've seen it posted in newsgroups, but I'll post it anyways - thanks Badman. :)

Well, someone emailed me about level 7 antennaes, and how to overcome them (Thanks Vasiliy!):
When I played SS, I just switched my shield on. Then, I suffered just 50% damage!

Also, another email regarding the "unofficial" sequel to SS (Thanks Nils):

"All I know is that a few EX-LOOKING GLASS employees are planning and already programming an inofficial sequel to System Shock (Origin or Looking Glass have the Copyright). I don´t know when they began or when it´ll finished.

The source of these information is a note in the newsblock of an german PC magazine (PC Games, PC Action or Power Play). I don´t know exactly, because I read this article a few months ago (around Nov-Dec97). I have to search a friends archive to find out if this was just a rumour or fact."

1/20/98 - 4:30 PM EST
246 votes left for the "Mark..." Um... Guys... Why hasn't anyone signed my guestbook? I thought I had supporters here... :)

Anyways, I haven't gotten a reply from Origin yet about my long-ass email, but I hopefully will in the next few days, so keep your fingers crossed.

My friend Justin Janger (Starflight) from PsychoNews referred me to an interview of the creators of Half-Life, Valve Software. Here's a tidbit I snatched off the interview regarding you know who's favorite game:

What games have influenced you in the making of Half-Life?

Probably the ones we talked about the most were Ultima Underworld and System Shock. We also spent a ton of time looking at all of the work the Internet community had done building add-ons for Quake. And, oddly enough, we spent a fair amount of time playing Mario 64 and trying to decide what lessons from that we should apply to the action genre.

Sounds interesting but know this: System Shock cannot be remade w/the Quake Engine. Why? Not enough interactivity, and remember that in System Shock you could move your mouse freely, it's not fixed to the middle of the screen like Quake-based games. That's why you can shoot at anywhere on the screen, unlike the UNREALISTIC Quake. But why am I ranting about this - System Shock can't be even compared to Quake, different genre - the only similarity is that they're both in the first-person perspective.

SHODAN, Citadel AI, "To Cyborg 65-V: You are directed to keep all robots, cyborgs and mutants away from the Beta grove on the executive level. I will not tolerate interference with my experiments there....."

1/19/98 - 5:45 PM EST
2 things - first off, don't forget to see the post I made earlier today (Big News).

Also, I just emailed Origin regarding this whole biz - check out what I wrote: (btw, I sent it HIGH PRIORITY.. hehe). I'm waiting for their response.....

To the System Shock Team, or to whom it may concern:

Hello, my name is Saam Tariverdi, and I’m the Chief Hardware Editor at PsychoNews, the Voodoo2 Editor at the 3Dfx Brotherhood, and last but not least, the webmaster of TriOptimum: The Unofficial System Shock page. I wanted to ask a few questions, and have some comments as well.

First off, on my Shock site, I have a world-wide petition going for people to sign if they want to see a sequel in the near future. While I’ve gotten nearly 750+ people to sign it in the past week, this number will substantially grow. Along with the signings are wonderful comments in which people are begging to see a 3Dfx-enhanced version of System Shock. Financially wise, this would be a GREAT choice, due to the fact that System Shock is just starting to get popular, and with 3Dfx support, it’ll be a true smash-hit. Now, maybe the 3D renderer won’t truly support 3Dfx as it’s nearly 4 years old (but still one of the best), I haven’t talked to my contacts at Looking Glass (Doug Church et all…) about this topic. I figured I’d go to you guys first, since you own the story, universe, not to mention, several instances where you talk about Shodan, Citadel, and other Shock stuff in other Origin games like Crusader: No Remorse.

Also, can you tell me the EXACT plans if at all you will be developing a System Shock 2? I’m not sure if you even realize this, but there is so much market right now for that type of genre – as no one has created a game like it. The problem with Shock was that poor advertising was done. But the major problem was that Shock had just bad luck – another "unknown" game by the name of DOOM & DOOM2 had arrived and had the hearts of all the game fans. If they didn’t exist, you’d be seeing Shock-clones everywhere. See my point? Please think about it, as well as if I get thousands of petition signings, would I be able to send it to you guys? I sure hope so, because I’ve gotten some fabulous comments on a possible "sequel."

I’m sorry this is a long email, but I had to do it. As webmaster of one of the only "true" System Shock pages, I think we System Shock fans of the world deserve the ‘true’ story behind it, once and for all. We’d all truly appreciate it, and again, thank you for your time. May our "Shockers" dreams come true.

Cheers,

Saam "Jettison" Tariverdi
Chief Hardware Editor, PsychoNews
http://www.psychogamer.com/news, saam@icode.com
Voodoo2 Editor, 3Dfx Brotherhood, http://analog.acsinc.net/ceremuga/
Webmaster, TriOptimum: The Unofficial System Shock Page
http://www.icode.com/shock
"Perfection Through Genetic Engineering" - System Shock

1/19/98 - 4:30 PM EST
I'm going to try to contact Origin to see if they, for now, can at least rerelease System Shock to utilize the ever-wonderful 3Dfx. Just stop reading, and picture roaming around in Citadel, with Bilinear Filtering, MIP Mapping, fog effects, transparencies, so on, so forth. Please join the support by emailing info@origin.ea.com and DEMANDING to rerelease a 3Dfx-enhanced Shock. (Well, don't demand, just beg.. :) )

1/19/98 - 4:27 PM EST
Okay. We've gotten 708 signings, so let's keep up the good work. Let me mention that only 2 people have commented on the buttons. What? I don't have TRUE fans here? C'mon and participate in the fun!

BIG NEWS!!! Ready to hear the news about a possible "unofficial" sequel to System Shock? Well, here goes - let the drums roll. (This is a HUGE post, but it's TRULY worth it, you'll see :) ).

To start off, let me get you up to date. (take a history tour, sorta say)

Back in late 1993/early 1994, a small company called LookingGlass Technologies, known for their smash-hits Ultima Underworld, and Ultima Underworld 2, began developing a sci-fi cyberpunk adventure for Origin by the name of System Shock. From what the ads looked like (I still have the magazines!) it looked truly phenomonal. Then, in October or December of '94 (I can't remember), the game was finally released on 3.5" Disks. I rushed out to buy it, and when I got back home - I was totally hooked - my dream had come true, and more. Despite it was choppy in fullscreen on my 486-66, I bought a Pentium-90 a month later, and was so amazed at the atmosphere, immeriveness, and story. I've been playing games since the early '80s, and this is quite one DAMN good game, as you know, that's why you're all here. :) (Important note: System Shock was COMPLETELY developed/programmed by LG. Origin only produced it/advertising).

In early '95, Origin released the CD-enhanced version of System Shock. What did this enhancement do? For starters, full speech throughout the game, and 640x480 SVGA graphics - I was ABSOLUTELY stunned at this point. Origin truly defines "state-of-the-art." (Bioforge? Pacific Strike?) Even on today's Pentium's, playing fullscreen Shock in 640x480 slows down the system, unless you're playing with a Pentium2.

Now, a few months after Shock was released, (early 1995), word was spread that Looking Glass and Origin broke their "friendship", and LG would not develop any more games under the Origin name. And even worse was that due to financial problems, LG had to sell the System Shock Universe to Origin. (Meaning, the story, 3D renderer which we all are familiar with, and IMO one of the best out there still, and everything else).

Several years passed, no sequel. LG did come out with an outdoor 1st person game, Terra Nova, which was DAMN AWESOME,(Easily top-5 of all-time) yet highly underrated, like System Shock. Their luck, eh?

Origin has used some bits and pieces of the SS world in other games, such as Crusader: No Remorse. If you do have that game, check out the newsletter which came with the game. I can't quite recall, but they mentioned Shodan the AI, and Citadel Space Station. That's the last we have heard of System Shock, and that's why I have created this petition.

However, keep in mind that Shock was solely developed by LG, and if we wanted an "official" sequel, Origin would have to make it. The greatest thing, however, was that LG had developed it. Doug Church, IMO, is probably one of the great programmers in the world. The 3D renderer of Shock was so far ahead of its time. C'mon, when was the last time you could lean sideways realistically, and have TRUE looking up/down? For the leaning, NO OTHER game has done it besides Shock, and the looking up and down part, only Quake has accomplished it, without warping the screen. (Build Engine anyone?)

That's why I want both LG and Origin to create both "official" and "unofficial" sequels. I want the story back of Shock, but I want LG programming it, as I know of their talents. Now, that'd be too good to be true, both Origin and LG creating Shock-type games. Can you imagine that? Seeing Wing Commander Prophecy, I know Origin has the talent of creating a Shock-type game, but I still prefer LG to make one.

Actually, some slightly "bad" news. I've decided not to give any information out about Looking Glass and their affiliates unless I get permission from my GREAT friends over there (Doug Church, SS Project Leader, Lead Programmer) (Marc "Mahk" Leblanc, SS Tools/Object Editor) and (Tim Stellmach, SS Designer). I'll try to contact them ASAP about this topic.

Before you read the "good" news, let me tell you this. LG's latest game, the Dark Project, is designed by mostly people from the Shock-team, such as the god-like Doug Church, Marc Leblanc, Tim Stellmach. One downside is that Robb Watters, the lead artist for System Shock, has left LG for better opportunities. Oh, how we will miss his Sec-2 Bots, Cortex Reavers... :)

Also, I'm not supposed to say anything 'bout this, and I won't, but a few of you have seen word about a game called "Junction Point" supposedly being the "unofficial" Shock sequel. A few german PC magazines have written about it, according to some email I have received. Until I have permission from my "hackers" at LookingGlass, I won't say anything more, except that the news I have concerns Junction Point. Now, whether the email (see below) by LG regards to Junction Point, I have yet to see. So please keep visiting the site often for the eventually-breaking news, as I'll be the first one to know. Guaranteed. :)

My friend, and a fellow SS fan Joe, (he designed those buttons btw) emailed LG the other day, and here's is LG's reply:

Date: Mon, 19 Jan 1998 12:35:02 -0500
From: Customer Support <cs@lglass.com>
To: Joseph Kirschbaum <blackbane@full-moon.com>
Subject: RE: System Shock

I can’t say a whole lot, however I can tell you that
we are in the development stages of a 1^st person
sci-fi action/rpg. We cannot do a sequel to SS that
is why the game is not called System Shock 2. Some of the SS team is working on it however. So maybe we can make you happy once more.

LGS CS

---

From: Joseph Kirschbaum[SMTP:blackbane@full-moon.com]

Sent: Sunday, January 18, 1998 11:57 PM
To: Customer Support
Subject: System Shock

I was browsing the web when I cam upon a nice little site dedicated to System Shock. Come on, you remember,System Shock was put out by Origin Games in 1994.

It went pretty much unnoticed because the PC’s of the day had a hell of a time running the thing. But let’s remember the cool things like looking up and down, jumping and ducking, not to mention rooms above rooms walkways, catwalks and the great plot and puzzles. Anyway, this site http://www.icode.com/shock/ made me remember all of that, what’s more they made me remember so much that I reloaded System Shock on my K-6 P200mmx with Monster 3d(though SS doesn’t use that) Stealth II s220 Awe-64 sound blah blah blah.. The point is I played the game as if it were the first time. I played in 640x480 which my old 486 dx2/80 couldn’t have done in my wettest of dreams. I played for 2 and a half days.

Hell I finished the damn game which is something I never did before. Replaying system Shock got me thinking, if they could do all of that then, what could they do now? Which brings me to my point. Could you please mention this site in your publication either online or offline or both. The webmaster there has started up a grassroots campaign to show Origin just how many people remember SS and would love to see a sequel. Please help us bring this dream to reality.

 

 

1/18/98 - 6:00 PM EST
Well, have you seen the Logs page yet? If not, head on over there!

A fan emailed me asking where to buy System Shock. As I know that's in most Bargain Bin/Classic sections, I don't know where to buy a copy. If anyone knows of an WWW site or a nationwide chain that sells SS, please let me know.

I've got some help with the ShockShots section, now all I need is someone to write me a completely new Overview section - are you willing to do it?

Oh yes, I emailed PC Gamer to post a news about this site - however, I doubt that they'll post it up, unless they get more email from you fans. Please do us all a favor and write to them. (I used editor@pcgamer.com)

btw, how do you like those "quotes" I put at the end of each news post? Pretty cool, huh? Makes you want to play the game again. :)

1/18/98 - 2:48 PM EST
Okay, onto other topics: Some of you have emailed me regarding the sequel, and how a few magazines have discussed a possible sequel? Is this true? I need some confirmation about it, so please email me with this hot info.

Now, about my "knowledge" of System Shock's future, I will dish it all out tomorrow afternoon, so please be here for the big announcement! It's going to be a big mutha' of a post, so be sure to check it out, as you don't want to miss this hot topic. <g>

Abe Ghiran, Maintenance Specialist, "My group is all but dead or made into cyborgs. SHODAN, that monstrosity, uses the bridge as its palace now....."

1/18/98 - 2:40 PM EST
559! Ok dudes, more than halfway there! C'mon, get more people to come here, so we can hit that magic number! I surely know Origin will respond to our pleas one way or another, so please spread the word!

Also, I have posted 2 SS buttons above, as you can see, but I need a vote as to which one is better - no one has emailed me yet regarding this issue, so please be helpful as I'm really confused. They're both real good, and can be used to prove that the SS fans still exist!

1/17/98 - 11:24 PM EST
The Guestbook works! Well, sort of. Since none of you are willing to help fix my Guestbook, I'm forced to use a temporary one, from lpage. Click here to go to the Guestbook page.

Lonni Stevens of Citadel, "I have a class B schematic of the level - we’d better hope that TriOptimum is sending the destruct enable signal from Earth."

1/17/98 - 10:43 PM EST
Whew! The Logs section is finally finished - go ahead, take a look at it, I know you will enjoy it. Comments, like always, are definitely welcome.

1/17/98 - 9:30 PM EST
Woohoo! We passed the 400 mark! Cheers to all you for making this happen - I just need to get past the 1,000 mark to make a statement... :) (Spread the damn word!!!)

Okay, onto business. The Logs Section will be on-line shortly - you'll get a kick out of it. Thanks again to Shawn "sweet-ass" Hanson for making this happen. Tell me what you think of it, so I can edit/change it to the best that it can be...

As you can see, a dedicated SS fan by the name of Joseph Kirschbaum has designed some "beta" SS buttons for TriOptimum - please decide on which is better, and I'll take a vote.

BTW, how do you like the midi's I put up? Is it worth it? Tell me what you think about them..

ALERT!! Things I need to accomplish to get TriOptimum one step ahead:

-Get at least 1,000 signees
-Figure out how to organize the petition signings
-Fix up the FAQ section
-Fix the Guestbook
-Create a Contest
-Finish the ShockShots section
-Get me a copy of the PC Gamer issue with the best of all-time games (Anyone have it?)
-Try to get more midi files from Lee Tobin, my "midi hacker."

Anything else I need to add? Let me know. Oh, and by all means, if anyone can help in the following "chores", you are welcome to do so.

Nathan D'Arcy, TriOptimum Scientist, "We’ll need to get the isotope x-22 from the Research level to charge up the shield generator...."

1/17/98 - 6:46 PM EST
397 Signings! Godly SS Fans, we're getting closer to the magic number - keep the signings comin'. I URGE all of you to spread the word - as I've had this page for 1 year now, and just now is it getting mentioned. Please spread the word. I also need a graphic artist to design me a small 'logo' of the SS page. Something like the size of the 'Netscape Now!' button. Any help is much obliged.

Coming up: A SS Comments section, as well as ALL the logs from the game, all organized by level, etc... Thanks for a loyal SS fan you was kind enough to send it to me (you know who you are :) )

Now, a few of you have emailed me asking for the BIG news - okay, I'll say it - but in a few days. Keep your pants on. While this is just a "rumor", it's a good chance it'll turn out a fact. It all involves Looking Glass, another company, and former LG employees that worked on System Shock - that's all I will give you today - so don't wet your pants, you'll hear what I now in a few days.

Abe Ghiran, "Oh My God! Sec - 2 Bots everywhere on Maintenance!"

1/16/98 - 10:15 PM EST
I've seen many of you visitors haven't signed the petition. Why not? I'd like to know why. Well, almost 80% of you DO sign it, and thanks a bunch for it, but if there's a problem of some sort, let me know.

Also, a problem I've just thought of: You know how I've been urging you to sign the petition? Well, there's one slight problem - How am I going to organize the long list? (Name, Email, Comment) Should I use a spreadsheet? What? If anyone has any experience in petition-type forms/organization, let me know ASAP.

Oh yeah, and of course, all suggestions to improve this site's design/traffic are VERY welcome.

Edward Diego - "Terminal Access shutting down...."

1/16/98 - 9:10 PM EST
Oh yeah, before you head off to another site, I'm one of the few people in the world to know the TRUE story about System Shock, and it's future - well, kinda. I know that LookingGlass can't make the "official" sequel, only Origin can (see Petition), but I know stuff that none of you hackers know. Would you like to know the inside scoop on the next "Unofficial System Shock" Sequel? I'd be glad to post all I know, I just need enough people to email me, so I know I have readers out there.

1/16/98 - 9:05 PM EST
A few more rants before I forget - Please read all my news CAREFULLY as I have posted important stuff about this page, and System Shock overall. It seems like a lot of reading to do, but it's sure worth it.

Also, I'm thinking of having a System Shock contest, where the grand prize winner will most probably receive a copy of the Dark Project, LookingGlass's latest System Shock - type game. I'm kinda leaning towards a trivia game, but alas, I need some suggestions, and of course, yours are always welcome to me.

1/16/98 - 9:00 PM EST
My God! I'm getting swamped with Petition signings! All thanks to my friend Alex 'Sharky' Ross from VoodooExtreme for getting the public involved in this. Now, I have approximately 280-300 signings, with about 60 coming in the last 3 hours. If we hit the magic 1,000 in the next week or 2, that'd be TERRIFIC. After that, we'll just have to hope for the magic 5,000, then 10,000, then... oops.. I'm getting carried away. Just please tell your friends and enemies alike about this page, as I need all the help I can get.

Couple other things before I forget: Since I don't know every game site known to man, would you SS fans please email other game sites letting them know of my existence? Please tell them to link to my page, along with a small news post, or whatever to just help me get more signings.

Also, I'm afraid that I MOST PROBABLY can't maintain this page DAILY, or even WEEKLY anymore. Why? Becase I'm the Chief Hardware Editor of PsychoNews, and I'm also the Voodoo2 editor of the 3Dfx Brotherhood. Plus, college is starting in a week, and I'll be busy with schoolwork. Now, I know many of you System Shock fans would like to have this site maintained with all the newest and slickest Shock news, so I just need a few helpers to get my ShockShot page going, and also this main news page, as well as some CGI editors. Would any of you be interested in maintaing this one of a kind page? I sure hope so. Just mail me at the link on the left frame.

Employee 2-4601, Signing off......... :-)

1/11/98 - 11:20 PM EST
ATTENTION!! The Guestbook isn't working! (again..) Would one of you web wizards please take a look at the source, and tell me what's wrong?

1/11/98 - 10:50 PM EST
The Files section is up and running! Enjoy the new midi's, ok?

1/11/98 - 10:10 PM EST
The files aren't working right now - I have to move/rename stuff - Check back in a few hours. I'll post up a message when it works. Thanks.

1/11/98 - 9:45 PM EST
Some other stuff I need to clear up - I need your help. What do I mean by that? Well, for the ShockShots page, I need someone to capture 10 shots of each level, starting from level 2 on up, INCLUDING the Reactor level. If you are a real sweetie, please include a thumbnail pic (see my ShockShots section), and the full pic - I'll be TRULY grateful - hell, I might even give a prize away, like a free game or something like that, who knows.

I also need someone to come up with a better Overview page - mine is REAL lame. I'm looking for something like a DETAILED System Shock overview, as well as a page saying "Why should YOU be interested in System Shock?" Let me know if you can help - I'll be much obliged.

Again, I need a CGI/Form Genius to do my CGI stuff! If you can also do some Java, please give me a buzz. I barely made the guestbook page!

1/11/98 - 9:30 PM EST
Wow! It's been almost 9 months since I've updated this page. Sorry folks, I've been REAL tied up with work, now that I'm Chief Hardware Editor at PsychoNews. Well, I'm going to try to update this page "frequently", but I can't guarantee anything. Anyways, onto the news:

In this nine months of inactivity, I've had dedicated gamers come and fill out the petition. I have received EXACTLY 220 signings, and I encourage those who haven't signed to do so.

PLEASE be sure to look around the slightly revamped site. I've added/changed a few stuff. (Check out some ACTUAL level midi's!). They're new, and awesome. Cheers to Lee Tobin for them. He's making more, so stay tuned. Also, I need some ppl to do the CGI stuff for me, as I'm dumb in that kind of thing - I need forms to be taken care of, and also, NEW GRAPHICS - these pics are cheesy. Please mail me if you can help. BTW, THE GUESTBOOK IS ONLINE! Check it out, and please fill it out. Thanks, and I'll see you hackers in Cyberspace!

PS: I might also make this page a news page for all LookingGlass titles, and other "cyberpunk" titles, such as BlackOps. Stay tuned.